Document restrainer

ABSTRACT

A device is disclosed for restraining the pages of a document. The device consists of a flat, horizontal base with a vertical member mounted at one side which projects upward and has disposed at its upper end an arm which extends out over the center of the base. Attached pivotally at about the end of the arm is a downward projecting rod-like member which swings in the plane of the arm but is restrained in its swing by elastic means mounted between the downward projecting member and the horizontal arm. In use this downward projecting arm engages the successive sheets of the document and holds them in a folded-back position.

United States Patent Webb Jan. 14, 1975 1 DOCUMENT RESTRAINER PrimaryExaminer-Roy D. Frazier [76] Inventor: Billy Gale Webb, 1421 Daytona,

Corpus Christi, Tex 78415 Attorney, Agent, or F1rm.lames J. Brown [22]Filed: June 14, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.1 370,031

A device is disclosed for restraining the pages of a document. Thedevice consists of a flat, horizontal [52] US. Cl ..248/504, 211/51 basewith a Vertical member mounmd at one side [51] I111. Cl B43"! 9/00 whichprojects upward and has disposed at its upper [58] held of Search248/361 R1 end an arm which extends out over the center of the 243/451;211/45 base. Attached pivotally at about the end of the arm is adownward projecting rod-like member which swings [56] Reerences cued inthe plane of the arm but is restrained in its swing by UNITED STATESPATENTS elastic means mounted between the downward pro- 1,347,s99 1 1920Sumner 211/51 jecting member and the horizontal use this 1,645,15110/1927 Mathewson 211/51 downward projecting arm engages the successive2,973,868 3/1961 Poskin 211/51 sheets of the document and holds them ina folded- 3,163,293 12/1964 Poskin 211/51 back position. 3,251,5195/1966 Jones .1 248/361 X 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3.860.211

sum 1 or 2 PATENTEBJANMIBTS 3.860.211

saw ear 2 DOCUMENT RESTRAIN ER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Officeworkers often have the requirement to extract information from largenumbers of data sheets such as computer print-out sheets, accountingrecords, parts lists and the like. Normally, the extraction ofinformation from these types of records requires the individualperforming the extraction to use one hand to write down the informationhe is extracting on a pad or piece of paper for future reference and theother hand as a reference pointer to maintain his place on the page ofthe document he is extracting from, thereby requiring the fullutilization of both hands.

Bulky documents like those described above are usually bound, fastenedor clipped together on a single edge, therefore the various pages mustbe folded back to permit the examiner of such records to review the dataon the successive pages. Normally these pages, due to the resilience ofthe paper from which they are made, static electricity attraction of onepage for the other, gravity and other like reasons tend to resist beingfolded back and away from the major volume of pages across their boundedge, thus requiring an individual extracting information from suchdocuments to hold the folded-back pages in their folded-back position orto place a paper weight or some similar heavy object on top of the pagesthat have been turned back to prevent them from flipping forward andcovering the page that it is desired to extract data from. Holding thepages back in a folded position with ones hand is unsatisfactory as athird hand would be required to pinpoint the information to beextracted. Use of paper weights and other similar heavy objects to holdback the folded pages is also unsatisfactory in that the folded-backpages normally present an uneven surface thereby causing the appliedweight to slip off, thus permitting the folded-back pages to suddenlyflip forward to cover the working area. The tendency of the pages ofmultipage documents bound on a single edge to return to their originalposition from a folded-back position across their bound edge and thuscover the page of the document that is in use and the lack of asatisfactory retention method is a constant time-consuming aggravationthat continually disrupts office processes, upsets workers andsubstantially increases the labor cost for such tasks.

The current invention provides an inexpensive device that firmly andpositively retains the pages of bulky documents that have been foldedback and away from the major volume of pages over their bound edges intheir folded-back position thus preventing them from flipping forward tocover the page from which it is desired to extract information andthereby freeing both hands of the user of the current invention for theinformation extraction process.

The use of both hands solely for the information extraction process isparticularly important to accountants, clerks and the like because theuse of one hand to pinpoint the information to be extracted and the useof one hand to write with in a situation devoid of interruptions andsudden diversion of attention substantially reduce errors in the dataextraction process, assist in the maintenance of tranquil workerattitudes and thereby increase efficiency, thus reducing labor cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a new and uniqueclerical device for use by office workers and the like doing tasksinvolving the extraction of data from multi-page bound or continuousdocuments.

An important object of this invention is to provide a means which willallow an individual who is extracting data from multi-page bound orcontinuous documents to have both hands free to perform the dataextraction process; i.e., one hand available for pinpointing a specificline item which is to be extracted and one hand available for writingdown the extracted data on a reference pad or similar memory retentionmedia.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive,mechanically simple, clerical device for the positive retention of thepages of multi-page bound or continuous documents in a folded-backposition away from the major volume of pages in the document once theyhave been so placed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device whichwill provide positive retention of the pages of a multi-page bound orcontinuous document in a folded-back position without damaging, tearingor marring said documents.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device whichwill provide positive retention of the pages of a multi-page bound orcontinuous document in a folded-back position yet allow their quick andeasy release.

Yet another object of the present invention is to pro vide a device thatwill permit repetitive sheets of paper to be folded back and inserted sothat they may be re tained in a folded-back position without allowingpreviously inserted sheets to be released.

These and other objects are accomplished according to the inventionwhich comprises a C-shaped stand with a cantilevered overhang containingan articulate rodlike projection at its forward terminus that extendsfrom the cantilevered overhang vertically to the stands base which isconstructed of rigid material such as wood, plastic or metal or any typeof organic, mineral or synthetic material that possesses rigidity andreasonable strength.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same become better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the currentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of thecurrent invention as it appears in use.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the paper retention mechanismof the current invention.

FIG. 4 is a side plane view of the paper retention mechanism of thecurrent invention.

In the drawings, for the purpose of illustration, there is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to FIG. I, there is shown a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention which comprises a C-shaped stand 1 possessing anexpanded hexangular base 2 from which a rear-mounted extension arm 3rises perpendicularly to a point above the base whereupon it evolvesinto a cantilevered overhang 4 protrud ing forward at a 90 angle fromthe perpendicular extension arm 3 over the diametric center of said base2 and parallel to the horizontal plane of said base 2 to a pointdirectly above and even with the junction of an elongated. beveledprotrusion 5 attached to and extending forward of the forward edge ofsaid base 2 and the forward edge of the major portion of said base 3,said extension arm 3 containing a U-shaped slot 6 par allel to thehorizontal plane of the stands base and located in the forward half ofthe extension arm's 3 cantilevered overhang 4 for the purpose ofmounting a spring-loaded pivotable block 7 from whose lower surfacethere protrudes a rod 8 of small diameter which extends downward andperpendicular toward the stands base 2 to a point approximatelythree-quarters of an inch from its terminus whereupon it inclinesrearward at an approximate thirty-degree angle from the vertical thenceproceeding further downward and rearward to contact the hexangular base2, said articulate rod 8 being continually urged to a near verticalposition by spring or elastic means 9 of the pivotable block from whichit protrudes and through which it is capable of rearward traverse andreturn from its static position if rearward pressure is applied andsubsequently released.

Three non-skid pads of rubber, felt or other frictiongenerating material(34) are firmly attached to the lower surface of the hexangular base 2to prevent slippage of the device about the surface on which it restsduring use.

As shown in FIG. 2, there is a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention as it would appear in actual usage. The hexangular base 2 ofthe document retainer stand (1) is positioned slightly rearward of thebound edge 10 of the document 11 from which data is to be extracted.

The bottom edge 12 of the page of the document 13 which is to beinserted and restrained in a folded-back position is so maneuvered bythe user of the present invention as to cause it to contact the forwardedge of the elongated, beveled protrusion 5 which assists and directsthe page to be inserted to sharply contact the forward lower inclinedextremity 14 of the retention rod 8 with such force as to cause theretention rod 8 to swing slightly rearward across the hexangular base 2in such manner that the arc of the swing causes the retention rod 8 tobe lifted slightly from its point of contact with the hexangular base 2,or should previous document pages have been inserted, from the exposedsurface of such documents. immediately following the initiation of theswinging action of the retention rod 8, which is induced by the sharpcontact of the edge of the document page 13 being so inserted and by acontinued insertion pressure applied by the user, the inclined portion14 of the retention rod 8 causes the document page 13 to slide down andunder the displaced retention rod 8, thereby releasing all rearwardpressures previously brought to bear against the retention rod 8;whereupon the continuous resilient urging of the retention rod 8 in adirection of clockwise rotation by the resilient means 9 attached to thepivotable block 7 causes the retention rod 8 to swing forward and overthe inserted document page 13 so that it contacts and retains it in afolded-back position.

In FIG. 3 are shown the various components of the pivotable blockassembly 7 which comprises an axis means 15; a rubber band 9 is employedas the resilient means to continually urge the pivotable block assembly7 in a counter-clockwise direction, said rubber band being looped overthe resilient means retention post 33 then extended downward and underthe upper step 17 of the pivotable block assembly 7 and then upwardthrough the small-diameter hole 18 located in the middle step 19 of thepivotable block assembly 7 thcnce rearward across the top of thepivotable block assembly 7 to its terminus whereupon it proceedsdownward and rearward to the resilient means retention post 16 uponwhich it is secured, thus providing a continuous resilient urging to thepivotable block assembly 7 in a clockwise direction. The rotationalstop-pin 20 has the purpose of blocking the clockwise rotation of thepivotable block assembly so that it is parallel and even with the uppersurface of the right arm 22 and left arm 23 of the U-shaped slot 6. Thepivotable block assembly 7 whose lower surface resembles an invertedstaircase in configuration comprises steps of three separate horizontaland parallel planes, each one above the other and possessing asmall-diameter hole 18 perpendicular to the blocks horizontal planepenetrating the diametric center of that portion of the pivotable blockassembly 7 that comprises the middle step 19 and also possessing asecond small-diameter hole 24 parallel to the pivotable block assemblyshorizontal plane which penetrates the block from left to right at apoint above and on line with the longitudinal junction 24 of the lowerstep 26 and the middle step 27 and at a point midway between the blocksupper and lower surface. The pivotable block assembly 7 further containsa resilient means retention post 16 which projects rearward from thediametric center of the rear of the uppermost step 17. Additionally, thepivotable block assembly 7 is fitted with a small-diameter rod 8 whichprotrudes perpendicularly from the diametric center of the lower surfaceof the blocks lowermost step 36.

Additionally, FIG. 3 shows the detail of the U-shaped slot 6 containedin the forward half of the cantilevered overhang 4 of the extension arm3. The U-shaped slot 6 is of such dimension that it will receive theblock assembly 7 in such manner that the forward edge of the pivotableblock assembly 7 is parallel and flush with the forward edges of theright arm 28 and the left arm 29 of the U-shaped slot 6 yet spaciousenough longitudinally to allow for an opening 30 of approximatelyonequarter ofits length to exist between the rear end of the pivotableblock 7 and the rearmost edge of the U- shaped slot 6 and of suchdimensional width that the pivotable block assembly 7 will pivot freelybetween the right arm 28 and left arm 29 which configure the U-shapedslot 6. The cantilevered overhang 4 contains right and left axialbearing holes 31 and 32, respectively, in the forward terminus of eachof the arms 28 and 29 forming its U-shaped slot 6 for the purpose ofsupporting axial means l5 about which the pivotable block assemblyrotates.

Various changes may be made to the form of the invention herein shownand described without departing from the spirit of the inventor or scopeof the claims.

It is claimed:

1. A device for restraining the pages of documents comprising inoperative association an upright member disposed at the edge of a flatbase and projecting upward therefrom, said upright member having ahorizontal arm disposed at its upper end and extending away from saidmember across about the center of said base and parallel thereto; adownwardly projecting elon gated member havning an upper L-shapedportion pivot means pivotally attaching said downwardly projectingmember near the terminus of said horizontal arm such that said L-shapedportion extends rearwardly toward the upright member and beyond thepoint of pivotal attachment and so that the downwardly projecting memberswings in the plane of said arm and upright member and extends to thevicinity of the base; said downwardly projecting member being partiallyrestrained in its swinging movement and returned to an approximatelyvertical position by elastic tension means attached at one end to theunderside of said horizontal arm and passing over the top of theL-shaped portion of the downwardly projecting member rearwardly of saidpivot means and attached at the other end to said downwardly projectingmember.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the end of the horizontally arm whichprojects over the base is forked to form two parallel side members witha space between in which the L-shaped portion of said downwardlyprojecting member is pivotally mounted the axis of said pivot meansprojecting through said side members and L-shaped portion.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said elastic tension means is acontinuous elastic band.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said elastic tension means is removablyattached to projections on said horizontal arm and said downwardlyprojecting memher.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the lower portion of said elongatedmember is angled toward said vertical member.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein stop means are provided on saidhorizontal arm to prevent said downwardly projecting member fromswinging beyond the vertical position in the direction away from saidupright member.

1. A device for restraining the pages of documents comprising inoperative association an upright member disposed at the edge of a flatbase and projecting upward therefrom, said upright member having ahorizontal arm disposed at its upper end and extending away from saidmember across about the center of said base and parallel thereto; adownwardly projecting elongated member havning an upper L-shaped portionpivot means pivotally attaching said downwardly projecting member nearthe terminus of said horizontal arm such that said L-shaped portionextends rearwardly toward the upright member and beyond the point ofpivotal attachment and so that the downwardly projecting member swingsin the plane of said arm and upright member and extends to the vicinityof the base; said downwardly projecting member being partiallyrestrained in its swinging movement and returned to an approximatelyvertical position by elastic tension means attached at one end to theunderside of said horizontal arm and passing over the top of theL-shaped portion of the downwardly projecting member rearwardly of saidpivot means and attached at the other end to said downwardly projectingmember.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the end of the horizontally armwhich projects over the base is forked to form two parallel side memberswith a space between in which the L-shaped portion of said downwardlyprojecting member is pivotally mounted the axis of said pivot meansprojecting through said side members and L-shaped portion.
 3. The deviceof claim 1 wherein said elastic tension meAns is a continuous elasticband.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said elastic tension means isremovably attached to projections on said horizontal arm and saiddownwardly projecting member.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the lowerportion of said elongated member is angled toward said vertical member.6. The device of claim 1 wherein stop means are provided on saidhorizontal arm to prevent said downwardly projecting member fromswinging beyond the vertical position in the direction away from saidupright member.